Students of the M.A. program will engage in advanced academic study and conduct their own dynamic scholarly research that seeks to recount diverse perspectives and provide a fuller understanding of complex issues we face today. Above all, the program is designed to enrich students' lives by exposing them to some of the major experiences and events, people and cultures, books and ideas that have shaped our modern world.
We expect that students/graduates of the History M.A. program will the exhibit and/or engage in the following:
Academic Excellence: Students will excel in their history coursework, as well as engage in internships available at local historical organizations.
Professionalism: Students hone professional communication, collaboration and research skills needed to enhance their professional career and increase their opportunities for advancement.
Career Development: Students will prepare for an advanced degree or careers in teaching, business, law, government, administration, and other fields related to history.
Learning Outcomes:
In the program, History M.A. students will engage in strong academic work and dynamic research collaborations with distinguished faculty and fellow students. For the M.A. in History, students must complete 30 credits of coursework, which includes 18 credits in an area of concentration (American History; World History; or the History of Technology, Environment, and Medicine/Health). Students must take at least 6 credits outside of their concentration, and complete either a thesis (6 credits) or a Master's Essay (3 credits). Among the many important skills that students of the program will master, Learning Outcomes specifically include:
Students will communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
Students will examine information and data in historical sources and draw logical conclusions from them.
Students will have problem-solving skills required to learn how a past idea, event, or person has affected the present.
Students will demonstrate proficiency in seeking and using information efficiently, effectively and ethically.
Students will observe and practice applications of concepts learned in a real-world setting.
Students will develop independent research skills to examine and process information from a large number of historical documents, texts, and other sources.